phelps



C. H. PHELPS March 22, 1955 PLOW HITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1954 Ch ar/es H. Phelps INVENTOR. BY ym fi aofi March 22, 1955 Filed March 16, 1954 Fig.3

C. H. PHELPS PLOW HITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Char/es H. Phelps INVENTOR.

United States Patent PLOW HITCH Charles H. Phelps, Anadarko, Okla.

Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,551 3 Claims. (Cl. 97-47.53)

This invention relates generally to hitch mechanisms and pertains more particularly to an improved form of plow hitch mechanism.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of plow hitch assembly which will permit a person to plow around a corner and turn as short as the associated tractor will turn without necessitating the use of individual wheel brakes at one side of the vehicle or the other to effect the turn.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved plow hitch assembly Which will substantially eliminate the side draft in plowing operations and which permit a tortuous furrow to be plowed in a smooth and efiicient manner.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a tractor showing the improved hitch assembly mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 in Figure 2:

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the main portion of the hitch assembly; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the base assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral generally indicates a tractor which is cf the type employing a pair of lower horizontal lift arms 12 and 14 and an upper attaching arm 16 as is conventional and well understood in this art. As is also Well known, the power actuated upper lift arms 18 and 20 connect through links 22 and 24 to the lower lift arms 12 and 14 to swing the same in vertical planes.

Reference numeral 26 indicates an elongated base plate member which is provided adjacent its opposite ends with a pair of transversely spaced apertures 28 and 30 through which U-bolt members 32 and 34 project for securing a rod member 36 on the undersurface of the base plate. The rod 36 projects from opposite ends of the base plate 26 and forms a pivotal connection between the base plate and the lift arms 12 and 14 by virtue of the rod projecting through these arms.

The upper surface of the base plate 26 is provided with an upstanding post member 38 rigidly secured thereto medially between the ends of the base plate and it will be noted that this post member is provided with a transverse bore 40 adjacent its upper end. A turntable plate member 42 is disposed in overlying relation to the base plate 26 and is provided with a central opening and a centrally disposed upstanding sleeve member 44 surrounding the post 38 and terminating short of the upper end thereof. The turntable plate carries a pair of transversely spaced plow beam members 46 and 48 of the plow members 50 and 52, respectively, the connection being eifected by welding or any other suitable means. To assure a rigid connection between the plow beams and the turntable plate, a cross-piece 54 may be provided. between the beams and rigidly attached to the turntable plate in a manner shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 4. Further rigidity is added to the assemblage by the provision of the brace members 56 and 58 which extend 2,704,497 Patented Mar. 22, 1955 between spaced points on each. beam and the upper end of the sleeve 44.

To prevent longitudinal movement between the rod 38 and the sleeve 44, and also to provide means for securing the attaching arm 16 to the hitch assembly, a stop collar 60 surrounds the upper end of the post 38 and a removable pin 62 projects through aligned apertures therein and through the previously mentioned bore 40 in the upper end of the post 38 to removably secure the same together. The collar may be provided with an end cap portion 64 if desired. Upstanding bracket arm members 66 and 68 are secured at oppostie sides of the stop collar and their upper ends are provided with aligned apertures 70 and 72 to receive the pin 74 which pivotally secures the rear end of an attaching arm 16 therebetween.

Suitable grease fittings may be provided on the sleeve 44 to lubricate the pivotal connection between the post and the sleeve.

The above described assembly is particularly useful for contour plowing and will enable the user to plow a tortuous furrow quickly and easily.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use with a tractor of the type having a pair of power actuated lifting arms and an attaching arm positioned thereabove, a hitch assembly comprising an elongated base plate adapted to be pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said lifting arms, an upstanding post secured to said base plate, a turntable member overlying said base plate and including an upstanding sleeve rotatably receiving said post, a plow secured to said turntable member, and a stop member removably secured to the upper end of said post and engaging the upper end of said sleeve, said stop member including a pair of spaced arms adapted to pivotally receive the free end of said attaching arm.

2. A plow hitch assembly comprising an elongated base plate having an upstanding post secured medially of its ends, a turntable plate overlying said base plate and provided centrally thereof with an upstanding sleeve receiving said post, a stop collar received on the upper end of said post and engaging the upper end of said sleeve, a removable pin projecting through said collar and said post for removably securing the same together, a pair of plow assemblies including beam portions rigidly secured to said turntable plate, and a plurality of brace members extending between said beams and the upper end of said sleeve.

3. A plow hitch assembly comprising an elongated base plate having an upstanding post secured medially of its ends, a turntable plate overlying said base plate and provided centrally thereof with an upstanding sleeve receiving said post, a stop collar received on the upper end of said post and engaging the upper end of said sleeve, a pair of spaced, upstanding arms secured to said collar, said arms having aligned apertures therein, a removable pin projecting through said collar and said post for removably securing the same together, a pair of plow assemblies including beam portions rigidly secured to said turntable plate, and a plurality of brace members extending between said beams and the upper end of said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,320,141 Kott May 25, 1943 2,333,837 Wibbels Nov. 9, 1943 2,346,757 Horner Apr. 18, 1944 2,347,898 Ferguson May 2, 1944 2,618,211 Fraga Nov. 18, 1952 

